Archive for April, 2016

DVS

It’s been a while since we last heard from one of UK rap’s most respected artists, DVS, who hails from Brixton. At the moment he’s incarcerated, but he’s still managed to release a brand new visual for us. It’s a follow-up to 2013’s ‘Passion’, that’s now seen as a classic in UK rap. Produced by Steel Banglez, who also produced the first one, it has a similar laid-back instrumental-based production. The visual starts with a guitarist playing along the river, switching to cuts of Brixton, and an old fashioned TV with clips of DVS playing. He talks about his life, and where he sees his position in the scene in his poetic style of rapping.

Logic feat. Mighty Moe and Maverick Sabre

Logic is well known for the political and social stance in his own music, as well as with his People’s Army crew, and this new one (‘I’m Not An Alien’) is no different. The track blends roots with of rap, and features Heartless Crew’s Mighty Moe, who steps in to provide Logic with a verse and Maverick Sabre who adds the roots vibe on the hook. Maverick uses Sting’s ‘Englishman In New York’ as inspiration, but switches it up, talking about humans being aliens. The track talks through matters of immigration and equality. Logic spits in his opening bar, “the people trying to keep out the immigrants are immigrants,” giving you something to think about.

Fekky feat. Giggs

As soon as you hear that South Londoner’s Bu Bu Bang Fekky and Holloman Giggs have a track out together, you know it’s going to be huge. Whilst we’re waiting for Fekky to drop his highly anticipated album El Classico, he gives us a teaser of what to expect with new track ‘Gossip’. Two of the best UK rappers on one track is a lethal and deadly combination, and they have a natural chemistry, with their flows and bars working well together. The black and white visuals create a dark and cold setting, matching the sinister beat, with the clips flashing between tower blocks, a room with a pool table and a meat truck. The menacing bars and quotable lyrics, “what’s all the gossiping ting, nigga’s know my style, I’m a boss in this ting,” will make this a fast favourite in clubs and on the festival circuit.

Yungen

Yungen gets serious as it seems he has a lot to get off of his chest for ‘Off The Record 2’ – a sequel to the 2012 track, both of which were produced by Steel Banglez. Showing a more vulnerable side to his personality, it feels like we get to know the real Yungen, with no barriers. He talks us through the problems and situations in his life such as his brother doing a 12-year stretch, giving his house to his sister, not wanting to be in Krept & Konan’s shadow (but of course stating it’s Play Dirty till the death and showing love), Tinie rating him, and how other rappers name for fame.

Tremz

Liverpudlian rapper Tremz is one to watch out for. His new cut ‘Nightmare’ features lyrics talking about Elm Street, with flames in the visuals and camouflaged wear with ballys and masks to give it a deathly, dark and looming feel. Tremz’s intense tracks and trademark hard bars, along with his accent, gives him a unique edge. This, along with his trappy-edged tracks, will give DJs no reason not to give him spins in clubs and on the radio.

In other news – Giggs announced on Instagram via a short video clip, that his brand new albumLandlord will be coming to us very soon… I think we can expect Youngs Teflon & Gunna Dee to make an appearance.

Little Torment has been quiet recently, bar his track on Fumez The Engineer’s mixtape, so it’s good to see him drop this new one “4am In The Streets”. This is taken from his Behind Closed Doors II mixtape, and proves the South Londoner spitter has not lost his edge, but has more fire in his belly.

Sneakbo & Steff London – Pull Up

This isn’t the first time Brixton’s Sneakbo and Steff London have collaborated and it probably won’t be the last either. “Pull Up” is the new one from the pair and they both bring the heat to this Hydrolix produced track. Sneakbo’s flow and bars compliment Steff’s. This tune’s is too hard!

Nafe Smallz – Digits

Luton based artist Nafe Smallz has just come back off tour with Future in America. Fresh off the back of this, he keeps things current remixing Young Thug’s “Digits”, giving it his own adaption of the track.

Shizz Mcnaughty and 140Aks ft. Allstars – Wickedest Sound Remix

Shizz Mcnaughty and 140Aks dropped the original “Wickedest Sound” track at the beginning of Feb, and after the track has done really well, have decided to give it an Allstar remix. Produced by Ras Eye and 10 Billion Dreams, the remix has been gifted by Blittz, Mercston, Izzie Gibbs and Capo Lee.

Capo Lee ft. P Money, Footsie & President T – Liff Remix

Capo Lee enlists fellow Grime MC’s and some of the best in the game too to give their take for the “Liff Remix”. OGz P Money is joined by Newham Generals Footsie and Meridian Crew’s President T.

China Town can sometimes be rather difficult to find a good restaurant in even though there are hundreds of them! I found one of the best and cheapest Northern Chinese cuisines when I ventured out to Baozi Inn. Arriving on a Saturday night at around 9pm there was a queue outside the door (always a good sign), but luckily we only waiting around 15 minutes to be seated. I later found out the reason the quickness of the queue was the quick turnaround in the restaurant.

This restaurant shot to fame when it opened in 2008 and has some of the cheapest and tastiest food in town. Their huge Baozi buns are famous and we had them filled with pork at a price of £1.20 each. They weren’t as light and fluffy as they should be, and were a bit on the doughy side but the pork filling had a nice taste it so they weren’t as disappointing as it could have been. For the price you really can’t go wrong either.

Another small eat we ordered were the lamb skewers which were divine and you can order as many or less as you want. The cumin sauce they were served in was so tasty, and luckily for me the lamb was cut into small chunks and didn’t consist of hardly any fat. The cumin flavoured sauce was combined with chilli, garlic, oil and was so flavoursome I kept the sauce to eat with my bun too.

The Chengdu crescent dumplings in chilli oil were next to be served to us and these were magnificent. The small boiled pork dumplings that the menu describes as “popular small eats in the Sichuanese capital Chengdu,” arrived in a pool of chili oil and crushed garlic. They were a satisfying portion and bursting with flavour. I will be definitely be coming back for some more of these tasty treats.

We went lastly for the Dan Dan noodles. These were so delicious I could (if I wasn’t stuffed) have eaten another bowl. Make sure when they are served to you, you mix them in as the sauce is all at the bottom. These noodles are a famous street food style dish which were traditionally as said on their menu “sold by street vendors who carried their cooking gear in baskets suspended from bamboo shoulderpoles.” Made with preserved mustard greens, sesame paste, chilli oil, minced pork and lots of other goodness, these will leaving you making sure you come back to Baozi Inn.

The décor may resemble more of a canteen than a restaurant, but the food is definitely not anything similar to a canteen. It’s cheap, it’s delicious and it’s quick, perfect if your in a rush, or after just some tasty small bites.

Bugzy Malone tells us about going clear for his new track ‘Gone Clear.’ We’re used to seeing a more fired, hyped up Bugzy on tracks, so it’s good to see the Manchester based MC take it down a level and flow over a more ominous beat . This track is produced by the mighty S-X and sees Bugzy talk about his life before fame, as well as where he sees his future, being a legend. This track should see itself on his forthcoming EP which will drop in the Summer.

Prince Rapid – What’s Good

If you’re a Grime fan, then the name Rapid will be very familiar to you. Hailing from Ruff Sqwad and being one of the founding producers, he is behind some of the biggest tracks for artists such as Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Wretch 32 and many more. “What’s Good” is the first track to be heard off of Rapid’s forthcoming Immortal EP and sees him take control of the mic and commanding power.

Ikes ft. Hayley Cassidy – Clarity

Ikes talks us through a relationship in his new one ‘Clarity.’ He’s with a lady but isn’t too clear of his feelings and where they stand, but it seems like she wants things to be clear. Hayley Cassidy beautifully sings the woman’s part of the tale, accompanying Ike’s mindful raps.

D Double E – Grim Reaper

D Double E is one of the most well-known and acclaimed MC’s in the Grime game. He keeps things in the Newham Generals camp for new track ‘Grim Reaper’ which is produced by Footsie. The horror-like movie visuals match the chilling message in the track.

Jorja Smith ft. Maverick Sabre – A Prince

Jorja Smith is one of the hottest British singer/songwriter newcomers, who got everyone talking with her debut track ‘Blue Lights.’ She now enlists the help of stunning Irish vocalist Maverick Sabre for a striking new track ‘A Prince.’ This is another tale of love, described by the 18-year old through lessons learnt from others, and comparing them to fairtytales. She is definitely as great a singer as she is a storyteller.

Lil Nasty

On New Year’s Day, platform SBTV dropped 5 videos called ‘Better Place’ from five talented UK rappers. The conceptual tracks/visuals are about their specific and different areas they are from and how they feel about them. In a very poignant showing, (following the tragic death of his little brother Nico Ramsay), Lil Nasty – who is known as a Grime MC – brought ‘Better Place’ to Plaistow. It’s a tribute to his brother and is emotional and moving, with Nasty taking on one of his first ever rap tracks, and doing it justice. He opens ‘Better Place (Plaistow)’ saying “What happened to the fun times, now it’s all blades and gun crime, youngers on the front line, attitude is thug life.”

Blittz & Big Tobz

Blittz & Big Tobz are two East London rappers who quickly made a name for themselves in 2015, both singly and as a duo with their on point punchlines and memorable tracks. ‘Wicked And Bad’ is the latest release from the rap duo, and an enticing track to kick off their collaborative forthcoming project Case Closed, which is set to be released in August 2016. Case Closed is produced and will be released by The Heavytrackerz, setting a new benchmark for the rap game. This track is the perfect introduction to the LP with an enthralling beat and the hook, which embodies the title track.

Adian Coker

Adian Coker is no stranger to the hip-hop game – he first staked his claim in the underground with his debut mixtape release Lights Fantastic, with his follow-up Young World propelling him past that success. He now returns with his brand new track ‘No Angel’, with a sample of Madonna’s ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ and a glimpse of Kanye West’s ‘Can’t Tell Me Nothing.’ Adian laces the track with his deep vocals and dives straight into exploring and taking control of the production, with his lyrics using emotion, frustration and strength to bring inspiration. It’s just Adian baring himself to the world with no barriers to hold him back.

Avelino

Hailing from Tottenham, Avelino turned heads when he dropped his free collaborative mixtape with Wretch 32 titled Young Fire, Old Flame in 2015. This year is all about his own music though, which kicks off with ‘Welcome To The Future,’ produced by Raf Riley. It showcases his distinctive lyricism, signature wordplay and inimitable flow, and stakes his strong presence in the game where he has now become a successful artist after years in the underground. The track has got a futuristic and fresh sound to it and is just the start of things to come this year. He will be releasing his debut EP soon too so make sure you watch out for that.

Potter Payper

Essex rapper Potter Payper released his 7-track One Time EP on March 31st and also dropped a new visual off of their ‘Real Life (Black Impala).’ It’s the second visual from the EP, following on from ‘Normal’ (feat Maverick Sabre). ‘Real Life’ provides a soulful, contemplative glimpse at Payper’s struggles with the visuals ever-reflecting the lyrics. Potter raps, “Sugh Knight in this Black Impala, mob shit tryna jack him after. I’m too G I’m so Bush Obama,” over a guitar-led track. Potter is definitely one of the coldest UK rappers, with some of the realist lyrics. You can get his EP here.

Sheffield Grime MC Coco’s latest track “Big N Serious” has been creating waves on the radio, online and on the TV for months now. The track has now been giving an official remix with two of Grime’s newest and hottest MC’s AJ Tracey and Nadia Rose also jumping on the track to add their magic. The levels of lyricism on this track are mental, and the three MC’s discuss everything from fakes, snakes, to mums.

Milli Major ft. Doctor – Merking

Bloodline representative Milli Major is back with an exciting new video “Merking” with a feature from Doctor. Milli destroys the track like a don does with his innate vocals and lyrics over a thumping 140 riddim. Doctor switches things up bringing a Dancehall vibe to the hook and immediately launches into a verse too.

Ratlin ft. Ayo Beatz – Never Doubt

Ratlin is back on his A-game with this brand new one “Never Doubt”. He brings in Ayo Beatz for the auto-tuned hook. This one sees Ratlin reaching for the sky for this inspiring track where he talks money, power and respect. We see Ratlin driving around in a very nice white Mercedes in the visuals and shots with his friends too. We should be seeing a lot more from the West London rapper who has been a little quiet lately.

Chase & Status ft. Novelist – NRG

Chase & Status have brought us some of the biggest anthems and after their latest London Bars series, with one of their tracks ft. Novelist “Bigger Man Sound”, they have joined forces again with him for brand new one “NRG”. Opening with a Prodigy sound, the track then launches into a bass fuelled, synth driven track, with Novelist showering it down with his bars.

Wilkinson And Wretch 32 – Flatline

After hearing the audio to this track already, we now have the energetic and fun visuals to match Wilkinson and Wretch 32’s joint track for “Flatline”. What a banger!